Inside the New York Yankees clubhouse with MLB.com beat writer Bryan Hoch.

Last day in K.C.

One more day remaining in Kansas City and the Yankees are still looking for a masterpiece. Then again, the way things are going, they’d settle for an ugly victory. The Yankees will be back at it again tonight at Kauffman Stadium, sending Andy Pettitte to the mound in search of the sharpness that eluded him last time out. And wouldn’t you know it? It’s raining in Kansas City again.

It seems a pretty safe bet that Joe Girardi won’t try using his bullpen to start this game. You think he might have wanted a do-over on that idea? Actually, the plan worked pretty well through the first four innings with Brian Bruney and Billy Traber, and then they did get a scoreless frame from Kyle Farnsworth.

But John Buck’s home run leading off the fifth changed all that, and as Girardi would later say, it’s impossible to win when you don’t score. That’s another problem they need to rectify immediately if they want to avoid months like they had early last year.

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13 Comments

Betemit is NOT what we need for someone coming off the bench. I’m not expecting us to have a .300 hitter to turn to, but at least a capable hitter who will put the the bat on the ball and force the opposition to make a play.

Actually Turner Field is more of a hitter friendly ballpark than Dodger Stadium or Yankee Stadium. IF you notice betemit’s stats start to fall drastically after he left Atlanta. He has been in his current role his entire career, it’s not like it’s something new to him so I don’t think that’s the reason. Betemit doesn’t have the talent to be a starter in this league, if he did he would have been a starter long ago. He is what’s called an “all-or-nothing” hitter. All he will be good for is hitting an occasional HR when he sees a mistake pitch from the pitcher. He has never shown any talent in any other offensive department, hence the low batting averages, there are just way too many holes in his game. Granted Giambi is no one’s ideal 1B but at least he has shown he can produce offensively, not by hitting a HR once in a while. I doubt this team would be willing to be more patient than it has been when it comes to production. This team will be looking for a better alternative than Betemit to start at 1B. He simply hasn’t earned the right to start. Some of Betemit’s numbers are a little misleading as some of them came in games that were blowouts and out of hand. IT doesn’t matter if Betemit has power, power only matters if you can hit the ball. This team won’t miss Betamit if it cuts him.

Look at Betemit’s first two years in Atlanta. If Bobby Cox can get that why can’t Girardi. If the answer is steady playing time, the only place available would be 1B and only if Giambi goes down again. So, it may not happen in NY unitil next year! I can think of other reasons too, that I don’t want to publish! E-mail me if you must know.

I think it’s time to cut ties with Betamit, and call up that long reliever it desperately needs for the sake of this team. The pen has 35 IP second in the AL only to Detroit, as I stated in an earlier post, that’s just way too many considering the season isn’t even 2 weeks old yet. Usually I wouldn’t advocate cutting a hitter when the offense is struggling, but hey, it’s Bet “You guys didn’t think I’d survive being cut yesterday”amit. He has done absolutely nothing this season (hasn’t done anything since coming to the Yanks) except take up roster space needlessly. Still can’t see why the Yanks like him so much. If Gonzales shows he can even hit a little bit, and show he is a decent fielder then Betemit may have lost his job at SS. Where else would he play 3B or 1B, those would most likely go to Ensberg if for some reason Rodriguez or Giambi can’t start at those positions. So where does that leave Bet “I’ll be in the unemployment line sometime soon”amit without a clear role, and no offense to speak of? ON the scrap heap!!!! Get that long reliever before the pen falls apart!!!!

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